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Windows 7 and 8, plus Midori – 100% Backward Compatibility
- Evolution on a non-Windows path vs. perpetuating the platform's heritage for 1+ billion users


Moving forward with Windows, and even past what is currently its proprietary operating system, Microsoft will have to deal with a crucial gambit – evolution on a non-Windows path vs. perpetuating the platform's heritage for 1+ billion users. Not really much of a choice for the Redmond giant, which can't afford to go either way. Instead, the solution explored by the software company involves a compromise between moving onward, while at the same time remaining anchored in the past. Windows has climbed to the top of the operating system market, with a share of over 90%, on the ladder provided by an immense ecosystem of software solutions and hardware products designed to integrate seamlessly with the platform. In this context, the evolution of the platform, be it Windows 7, Windows 8 or Midori has to ensure an as close to 100% backward compatibility metric as possible.

The move from Windows XP to Windows Vista was nothing short of a wake-up call for Microsoft. Just the introduction of mitigations such as the User Account Control, PatchGuard (Kernel Patch Protection) and Mandatory Signed Drivers has generated a consistent level of incompatibility problems. But this is nothing compared to what an entirely new non-Windows OS, written from scratch in managed code, componentized and with fresh (long overdue) security boundaries will bring to the table. Midori is nothing but the promise of a world of pain for Microsoft, software developers, hardware manufacturers and the entire Windows install base.

Vista introduced compatibility mode in an effort to deliver a breath of fresh air for the applications designed specifically for older versions of Windows. Vista offered support for programs developed for Windows 95, Windows 98/ME, Windows NT 4.0 SP5, Windows 2000, Windows XP SP2 and even Windows Server 2003 SP1. The upcoming Windows 7, and even Windows 8, will follow Vista's footsteps. As far as Windows 7 is concerned, Microsoft has already confirmed a strong commitment to perpetuate the software and hardware compatibility level of Windows Vista.

For more details: Softpedia